The Norcliffe Foundation is a Seattle-focused, place-based funder that prioritizes large capital and campaign gifts to civic, cultural, educational and health institutions. Their grants consistently support building and renovation projects (aquarium pavilion, waterfront park, school and university facilities) and significant investments in children’s health and developmental services, while also making targeted contributions to reproductive health and disability services. They tend to make few, high-dollar grants and often fund repeat campaign commitments to the same regional organizations.
The Norcliffe Foundation’s recent giving is defined by multimillion-dollar commitments to Seattle-area civic projects and institution-building campaigns. In 2025, it gave $5,000,000 to the Seattle Aquarium for the Ocean Pavilion, and it has also backed the broader waterfront with campaign support for Friends of Waterfront Seattle. Those gifts sit alongside large investments in pediatric behavioral health, school facilities, and community-serving capital projects across the region. The foundation repeatedly uses major grants to help move projects from campaign to construction or expansion. It funded Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation for its neurosciences, autism and mental health campaign in both 2024 and 2025, and it supported University Preparatory Academy’s building campaign in 2023. Its portfolio also includes large gifts to institutions such as the Haring Center, Western Washington University Foundation, and Planned Parenthood Great Northwest Hawaii Alaska Indiana Kentucky, showing a mix of education, health, culture, and public space priorities. Across the recent record, the pattern is concentrated and place-based: many awards go to Seattle organizations, often for named capital campaigns or restricted project work. The foundation also makes grants to housing, public media, and community development organizations, but the clearest thread is support for tangible regional projects with visible physical or programmatic outcomes.
In waterfront and marine-related work, The Norcliffe Foundation backed the Seattle Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion with $5,000,000 in 2025 and also supported the earlier One Ocean, One Future campaign for the same project in 2023 and 2024. It paired that with capital support for Friends of Waterfront Seattle’s campaign for Waterfront Park. In children’s health, the foundation gave Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation $2,136,970 in 2024 and another $2,000,000 in 2025 for It Starts With Yes: Neurosciences Autism and Mental Health. The pattern points to repeated support for pediatric neuroscience, autism, and mental health initiatives. Education and school partnerships are another clear thread. It gave University Preparatory Academy $2,500,000 for its Building to Include, Invent, Inspire campaign, and supported Fulcrum Foundation with $1,051,625 in 2024 for School Partnerships Program plus $1,000,000 in 2025 for School Partnerships — Major Fundraising Project.
$40.5M
$22.5M
$43.6M
$41.4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 93% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving primarily in the Seattle/WA region; few (11) grants totaling large amounts with repeated multi-grant support for flagship campaigns and capital projects rather than many small unrestricted gifts.
Notable grantees: Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, University Preparatory Academy, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky
The Norcliffe Foundation’s typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent record also includes several seven-figure awards. The foundation appears to favor large, restricted gifts tied to campaigns, capital projects, and specific programs rather than broad unrestricted support. Multiple organizations recur across years, including Seattle Aquarium, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation, and Fulcrum Foundation, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. It is classified as a regular funder, makes grants to individuals, and does not make program-related investments.
The Norcliffe Foundation gives overwhelmingly in Washington: 93% of grants go to recipients in its HQ state. Seattle is the main recipient city, with additional grants landing in Tacoma, Bellevue, Bellingham, Lopez Island, and White Center. Outside Seattle, the most visible recent recipients include Western Washington University Foundation in Bellingham, Pacific Lutheran University and Multicare Foundations in Tacoma, and Housing Lopez Inc on Lopez Island. The country distribution is entirely domestic, with all recent grants listed in the United States.
Its recent grants are centered on capital campaigns, facility renovation and construction, and restricted project support. Examples include an aquarium pavilion, waterfront park work, school building campaigns, pediatric health initiatives, and community housing and media projects in Washington.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Seattle Aquarium, Friends of Waterfront Seattle, Seattle Children’s Hospital and Research Foundation, and Fulcrum Foundation. The repeated awards often track the same named campaign or project.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $5,000 at p25, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at p75. The recent grant list also shows much larger campaign gifts, including multiple seven-figure awards.
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Washington, where 93% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Seattle receives the bulk of the awards, with smaller numbers in Tacoma, Bellevue, Bellingham, Lopez Island, and White Center.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Norcliffe Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations operating within the eleven Puget Sound counties listed in Washington State may apply. Fiscal sponsor arrangements with a registered 501(c)(3) are eligible. The foundation does not fund deficit financing or debt reduction.
Deadline: No specific deadlines; requests are accepted on a rolling basis year-round.
Who can apply: Organizations must have IRS 501(c)(3) status or apply via a fiscal sponsor; work must be located in or primarily serve the Foundation's Puget Sound geographic area; must meet wait/rehab sit-out policies if previously funded (see guidelines).
Deadline: Rolling / year-round (no fixed calendar deadlines)
Who can apply: Requests must be submitted by eligible nonprofits operating within the listed Puget Sound counties. Larger requests require submission of a fundraising plan. Contact the Foundation to request access/password for the Special Application if seeking over $50,000.
Deadline: No specific deadlines; reviewed throughout the year. Larger awards may be subject to additional review timelines.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEATTLE AQUARIUM | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000,000 | 2025 | OCEAN PAVILION |
| THE HARING CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | RENOVATION PROJECT |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $2,000,000 | 2025 | IT STARTS WITH YES: NEUROSCIENCES AUTISM AND MENTAL HEALTH |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST HAWAII ALASKA INDIANA KENTUCKY | SEATTLE, WA | $1,700,000 | 2025 | POWER THE MOVEMENT CAMPAIGN |
| CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY | TACOMA, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY-SERVING INVESTMENTS IN PRE-HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION |
| MULTICARE FOUNDATIONS | TACOMA, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| SEATTLE AQUARIUM | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HOUSING LOPEZ INC | LOPEZ ISLAND, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | LOPEZ ROOTED AND RISING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| FULCRUM FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS -- MAJOR FUNDRAISING PROJECT |
| WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY HUB |
| ONE ROOF STADIUM PARTNERSHIP FISCALLY SPONSORED BY SEATTLE CENTER FOUNDATIO | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | MEMORIAL STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| OVERLAKE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | BELLEVUE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| WOODLAND PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TREE KANGAROO FOREST PROJECT |
| SEATTLE GIRLS' SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $750,000 | 2025 | SGS RISE UP: GET IN THE GAME CAMPAIGN |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GOLF, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | ENDOWED NAMED SCHOLARSHIP |
| COMPASS HEALTH | EVERETT, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | BROADWAY CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT |
| SEATTLE'S UNION GOSPEL MISSION | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | THE CAMPAIGN FOR SEATTLES UNION GOSPEL MISSION |
| BISHOP BLANCHET HIGH SCHOOL | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | IGNITE BE THE LIGHT CAMPAIGN |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - TACOMAPIERCE COUNTY | TACOMA, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | BUILDING HOPE CAMPAIGN |
| FULCRUM FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SEATTLE ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (SAAS) | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | SEATTLE ACADEMY SOUTH PARK INITIATIVE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION | OLYMPIA, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA WESTERN WASHINGTON | EVERETT, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | VOA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER |
| RAINIER VALLEY FOOD BANK | SEATTLE, WA | $500,000 | 2025 | FEEDING CHANGE CAMPAIGN |
| FAMILYWORKS | SEATTLE, WA | $420,000 | 2025 | NOURISHING COMMUNITIES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| GIRL SCOUTS WESTERN WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $400,000 | 2025 | CAMP RIVER RANCH WATER PROJECT |
| PENMET PARKS FISCALLY SPONSORED BY GREATER TACOMA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | GIG HARBOR, WA | $400,000 | 2025 | PENMET PARKS COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| GEORGETOWN STEAM PLANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY | SEATTLE, WA | $350,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF WOODEN BOATBUILDING | PORT HADLOCK, WA | $350,000 | 2025 | CAMPUS GROWTH: ADDING HOUSING, CONNECTION AND INTEGRATION |
| FOUR WINDS WESTWARD HO | DEER HARBOR, WA | $350,000 | 2025 | SKY & SEA CAMPAIGN |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN | FAIRFIELD, CT | $300,000 | 2025 | INCREASING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND FOOD SECURITY FOR CHILDREN IN RURAL WESTERN WASHINGTON |
| COMPREHENSIVE LIFE RESOURCES | TACOMA, WA | $300,000 | 2025 | INTEGRATED CARE CENTER FOR PIERCE COUNTY |
| GAGE ACADEMY OF ART | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | NEXT LEVEL CAMPAIGN |
| SAINT MARTIN'S UNIVERSITY | LACEY, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | NURSING PROGRAM EXPANSION REMODEL |
| BLACK AND TAN HALL FISCALLY SPONSORED BY NORTHWEST FILM FORUM | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| RENTON INNOVATION ZONE PARTNERSHIP | SEATTLE, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | SKYWAY RESOURCE CENTER |
| EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE | SEATTLE, WA | $175,000 | 2025 | LOBBY RENOVATIONS |
| WASHINGTON POLICY CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $125,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | ENDOWMENT FUND |
| YWCA SEATTLE KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING: EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND SUPPORT + INTERNAL STAFFING |
| WASHINGTON POLICY CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDS OF LOPEZ ISLAND POOL | LOPEZ ISLAND, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGN FOR A COMMUNITY SWIM CENTER ON LOPEZ ISLAND |
| HARLEQUIN PRODUCTIONS | OLYMPIA, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | THEATER RENOVATION - PHASE ONE |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| NURTURING ROOTS | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CHIEF SEATTLE COUNCIL | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| THE SKAGIT VALLEY FAMILY YMCA | MOUNT VERNON, WA | $80,000 | 2025 | CAMP ANDERSON CAMPAIGN |
SEATTLE AQUARIUM
$5,000,000OCEAN PAVILION
THE HARING CENTER
$2,000,000RENOVATION PROJECT
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$2,000,000IT STARTS WITH YES: NEUROSCIENCES AUTISM AND MENTAL HEALTH
PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST HAWAII ALASKA INDIANA KENTUCKY
$1,700,000POWER THE MOVEMENT CAMPAIGN
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATING
PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000COMMUNITY-SERVING INVESTMENTS IN PRE-HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATION
MULTICARE FOUNDATIONS
$1,000,000MARY BRIDGE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
SEATTLE AQUARIUM
$1,000,000CONTRIBUTION
HOUSING LOPEZ INC
$1,000,000LOPEZ ROOTED AND RISING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FULCRUM FOUNDATION
$1,000,000SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS -- MAJOR FUNDRAISING PROJECT
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
$1,000,000WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY HUB
ONE ROOF STADIUM PARTNERSHIP FISCALLY SPONSORED BY SEATTLE CENTER FOUNDATIO
$1,000,000MEMORIAL STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$1,000,000CONTRIBUTION
OVERLAKE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$1,000,000CONTRIBUTION
WOODLAND PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
$1,000,000TREE KANGAROO FOREST PROJECT
SEATTLE GIRLS' SCHOOL
$750,000SGS RISE UP: GET IN THE GAME CAMPAIGN
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$500,000ENDOWED NAMED SCHOLARSHIP
COMPASS HEALTH
$500,000BROADWAY CAMPUS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
SEATTLE'S UNION GOSPEL MISSION
$500,000THE CAMPAIGN FOR SEATTLES UNION GOSPEL MISSION
BISHOP BLANCHET HIGH SCHOOL
$500,000IGNITE BE THE LIGHT CAMPAIGN
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - TACOMAPIERCE COUNTY
$500,000BUILDING HOPE CAMPAIGN
FULCRUM FOUNDATION
$500,000CONTRIBUTION
SEATTLE ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES (SAAS)
$500,000SEATTLE ACADEMY SOUTH PARK INITIATIVE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION
$500,000PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA WESTERN WASHINGTON
$500,000VOA NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
RAINIER VALLEY FOOD BANK
$500,000FEEDING CHANGE CAMPAIGN
FAMILYWORKS
$420,000NOURISHING COMMUNITIES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
GIRL SCOUTS WESTERN WASHINGTON
$400,000CAMP RIVER RANCH WATER PROJECT
PENMET PARKS FISCALLY SPONSORED BY GREATER TACOMA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$400,000PENMET PARKS COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
GEORGETOWN STEAM PLANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
$350,000CONTRIBUTION
NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF WOODEN BOATBUILDING
$350,000CAMPUS GROWTH: ADDING HOUSING, CONNECTION AND INTEGRATION
FOUR WINDS WESTWARD HO
$350,000SKY & SEA CAMPAIGN
SAVE THE CHILDREN
$300,000INCREASING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND FOOD SECURITY FOR CHILDREN IN RURAL WESTERN WASHINGTON
COMPREHENSIVE LIFE RESOURCES
$300,000INTEGRATED CARE CENTER FOR PIERCE COUNTY
GAGE ACADEMY OF ART
$250,000NEXT LEVEL CAMPAIGN
SAINT MARTIN'S UNIVERSITY
$250,000NURSING PROGRAM EXPANSION REMODEL
BLACK AND TAN HALL FISCALLY SPONSORED BY NORTHWEST FILM FORUM
$250,000CONTRIBUTION
RENTON INNOVATION ZONE PARTNERSHIP
$200,000SKYWAY RESOURCE CENTER
EISENHOWER MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$200,000CONTRIBUTION
SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE
$175,000LOBBY RENOVATIONS
WASHINGTON POLICY CENTER
$125,000CONTRIBUTION
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
$100,000ENDOWMENT FUND
YWCA SEATTLE KING AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES
$100,000CAPACITY BUILDING: EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND SUPPORT + INTERNAL STAFFING
WASHINGTON POLICY CENTER
$100,000CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF LOPEZ ISLAND POOL
$100,000CAMPAIGN FOR A COMMUNITY SWIM CENTER ON LOPEZ ISLAND
HARLEQUIN PRODUCTIONS
$100,000THEATER RENOVATION - PHASE ONE
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
$100,000CONTRIBUTION
NURTURING ROOTS
$100,000CONTRIBUTION
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CHIEF SEATTLE COUNCIL
$100,000CONTRIBUTION
THE SKAGIT VALLEY FAMILY YMCA
$80,000CAMP ANDERSON CAMPAIGN
